WCNRC April
Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Allison Cochran, Chair, Mike Henshaw, Vice
Chair, Kerri Roberts, Secretary, Zack Brannon, John Creed, Maggie Johnston.
Allison opened the meeting and members present discussed the
vote on the new council treasurer since Johnna Franks is retiring from AFC in
June and also wants to retire from the treasurer position for WCNRC. PJ Gossett
has volunteered to be the new treasurer. Members will vote on the new treasurer
at the May meeting. If possible the old and new treasurer, along with member
John Creed (who is on the bank account as second signature) will go to the bank
to make the change after the May meeting.
Mike noted the May meeting will be a tour of Albertville
Mulch owned by David Brooks off County Road 2. Members will meet at the
Bankhead headquarters in Double Springs at 9 on May 20 and carpool to the
business for the tour.
Zack updated on the Learn and Burn in Walker County the last
week of April and the Invasive Species Workshop in Marion County on May 18. He
will be posting a flyer for that event to the blog. CEUs and PLMs will be
given for attendance. Andy Baril and
Lucy Edwards of Extension are hosting this event. Zack is presenting on sprayer
calibration. Funds donated for the event will purchase 2 sprayers to be placed in
different locations in NW Alabama and will be able to be checked out for use
from Extension Offices.
Zack and Kerri mentioned the Extension Natural Resources Agent awards
application for “friends of completing natural resources education” category.
Kerri thought the council’s efforts on the FAWN video series to have the
program continue during a pandemic should be entered for consideration. The members
present agreed. Zack will get with Andy Baril, whom we think is a member of the
association, for guidance.
Kerri noted there will be a 4-H Forestry day camp on June 23
at Brushy Lake.
Zack asked if there was interest among members to host a hog
trapping field day. He stated Rawlins Jolly with the forest service was
interested in that work and that there are several traps across the county. One
is in the east part of the county and could be the location for a field day.
Members present thought it would be a good topic.
Allison noted the fishing derby will not happen this year.
Maggie invited members to her property that is being managed
by Mississippi State students for research on soil amendments on reclaimed mining
property. This will happen the week of May 3-7 (date not yet set). Maggie will
get an invitation/flyer to Allison to post on the blog. This is just an
additional educational opportunity. Maggie also noted citizen science projects
with Wild Alabama are continuing and progressing with the Hemlock and acorn
projects.
Allison updated that Heather Eddy is a new Americorps
employee who will serve as the Bankhead Volunteer Coordinator. Hope to
get her involved with the Council.
Autumn Watrous is the new Quail Forever Biologist stationed
in Cullman. Have invited her to come to a future meeting and network for
opportunities with private landowners, especially.
Bankhead is continuing prescribed burning and busy with many
forest management projects. We continue in the planning of a longleaf
pine woodland and quail habitat improvement project in the Black Pond
area. Stay tuned for more opportunities to learn and collaborate. More to
come!
Bankhead is working on a land exchange. There are two
priority tracts on the Sipsey Fork in the Moreland area that a landowner is
interested in exchanging. Several Forest Service outlying/isolated tracts
are being considered for an equal value exchange. Contact Andy Scott for more
information or to comment.
Meeting adjourned.
Next meeting May 20- field trip to Albertville Mulch.
Meet at Forest
Service Office at 9.
